Barcelona Agree Terms With Real Sociedad Keeper Claudio Bravo

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FC Barcelona are undergoing a overhaul in the goal keeping department as Victor Valdes and his understudy Jose Manuel Pinto making way for Marc Andre Ter Stegan and he will be challenged by Chile captain Claudio Bravo.

FC Barcelona was relying on to the safe pair of hands provided by Victor Valdes for quite some time in La Liga. The likes of Lionel Messi, Andreas Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez were hogging the limelight when Tiki Taka dominated world football. Even though other Barcelona players played their part in the success story of FC Barcelona, they couldn’t grab the highlight on a consistent basis. Victor Valdes was one of them, an unsung hero whose value was recognized when he missed the action due to a horrific injury. Victor Valdes deputy Jose Manuel Pinto failed to rise up-to the occasion in his absence and the value of eye was realized in its absence.

Victor Valdes announced his intention to leave FC Barcelona very early and it provided the Catalan giants the space required to find an adequate replacement. The names of Marc Andre Ter Stegan, Bernd Leno, David De Gea, Pepe Reina, Vicente Guaita were mentioned as potential replacements for Victor Valdes. As the time progressed Barcelona zeroed in on Borussia Monchengladbach’s young goal keeper Marc Andre Ter Stegan as the successor to Victor Valdes. The German youngster was making some waves in Bundesliga drawing comparisons with Oliver Khan in the process. He has showed composure and maturity beyond his years and his shot stopping skills are the highlight of his goal keeping abilities.

The expected arrival of Marc Andre Ter Stegan hasn’t gone down well with Jose Manuel Pinto and he decided to bid adieu to Barcelona in search of regular first team football. Even though FIFA transfer embargo had put Barcelona in a precarious position, it has been suspended on appeal and Barcelona are planning to cover all the bases before that.

The big holes in defence can be covered with the potential arrival of Marquinhos from PSG and Atletico Madrid defender Miranda. Still, Barcelona need another goal keeper to provide cover and competition for Marc Andre Ter Stegan. The pressure and expectation from Barcelona faithful will be huge and it will be huge gamble if Barcelona doesn’t have adequate cover in goal keeping department.

Barcelona has identified Chile skipper Claudio Bravo as a capable competitor for the German youngster. Claudio Bravo played a key role in guiding Real Sociedad to a top 7 finish. The South American is very well versed with the demands of Spain and La Liga and has more than 200 appearances under his belt in Spanish soil.

Reports suggests that Barcelona are close to securing the deal for the Chile international. 31-year old Real Sociedad goal keeper, Claudio Bravo, has agreed personal terms with Barcelona according to Basque newspaper ‘El Diario Vasco’. Claudio Bravo’s has 3 years remaining on his remaining on his current contract but Barcelona is expected to reach a compensation package with Real Sociedad in the coming days.

It is reported that Claudio Bravo has asked for equal treatment with Marc Andre Ter Stegan before establishing an order and Barcelona has happily agreed to the demands of the Chilean. The presence of an experienced goal keeper will help Marc Andre Ter Stegan to ease into Spanish football and Claudio Bravo might enjoy the rub of the green at the start of his Barcelona career if everything goes according to his plan.